1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler,
and they who reel under it do not act wisely.
2 The wrath of a king is like the growl of a lion,
and he who provokes him endangers his life.
3 It honours a man to keep from strife,
but every fool shows his teeth.
4 In autumn the lazy man will not plough;
so in harvest he asks for a crop in vain.
5 A plan may lie deep in the heart like well-water,
but a skilful man knows how to draw it up.
6 Many a man professes kindness,
but who can find a man of fidelity?
7 Happy the sons that come after the man
whose life has been righteous and blameless.
8 Throned on the seat of judgment,
the king sifts all wrong with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
pure and sinless am I”?
10 Divers weights and divers measures
are both alike to the Lord detestable.
11 Even a child is known by his deeds,
as his conduct is good or bad.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye
are both alike the Lord's creation.
13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, that your bread may be plentiful.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer;
but when he is gone, he brags.
15 Lips of wisdom are store of gold,
wealth of coral and precious vessels.
16 Take the garment of him who goes bail for another,
and hold it in pledge for that other.
17 Bread won by deception tastes sweet to a man,
but at last his mouth will be hiled with gravel.
1 8 Take advice in arranging your plans,
and do not make war without guidance.
19 Who carries tales divulges secrets;
have nothing to do with a gossip.
20 He who curses his father or mother —
his lamp will go out in thick darkness.
21 Wealth hastily gotten at first
will remain unblessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil”;
but wait for the help of the Lord.
23 Divers weights the Lord abhors;
false balances are not good.
24 Since the Lord controls a man's steps,
how can man understand his way?
25 A man is ensnared if he dedicates rashly,
and only makes inquiry after his vow.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked,
and passes the wheel over them,
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,
searching every room of his being.
28 Kindness and faithfulness guard the king,
and his throne is established by justice.
29 The glory of youth is its strength,
but grey hair is the beauty of age.
30 A bad man is doomed to the lash, whose stripes
will cut to his inmost soul.